Mine Oversight, Demand Are Hurdles to Critical Mineral Expansion

The Trump administration plan to add copper and other commodities to the federal critical minerals list is expected to spur expedited permitting and excitement for domestic production, say investors and analysts—even as environmental and demand concerns present challenges to investment.

Adding copper is no guarantee that mining the ore will boom again in the US anytime soon, they said.

The US Geological Survey this week published a draft of its expanded list of 54 critical minerals, which adds copper, silver, potash, silicon, lead, and rhenium. The agency is seeking public comment through Sept. 25, including on whether metallurgical coal should ...